Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2016 ANA Auction - Sess. A-C 10-12 August 2016
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BELGIUM. Great European Cathedrals Bronze Medals, ND. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
c. 59 mm. By Jacques Wiener. 10 pieces in lot. This grouping includes: (1850) San Marco Basilica in Venice, Italy; (1855) Duomo de Pisa, in Italy; (1856) Westminster Abbey in England (English Version); (1857) Tournai Cathedral in Belgium; (1857) Basilica of St. Peters in Rome, Italy; (1858) St. Genevieve Pantheon in Paris, France; (1859) St. Ouens Church at Rouen, France; (1860) Cathedral of Milan, Italy; (1861) Chartres Cathedral in France; and (1862) the St. Etienne's Church in Caen, France. This is a spectacular series of medals each depicting an exterior view of the featured building, and an incredibly finely engraved view of the interior of the structure on the reverse. The interior views have a 3-dimensional effect that is quite remarkable, and best appreciated under magnification. Wiener began his intended series of 50 medals in 1848 but failing eyesight ended the series in 1867 after only 41 of the intended medals had been produced. As his vision continued to deteriorate he was able to continue engraving more typical medals for another 7 years, but could never again achieve the level of intricacy required to maintain the quality of his earlier work, and he chose to end the series rather than to produce an inferior product. These medals are typically collected in bronze, but on rare occasions a Silver specimen will appear. The mintage of the medals in this series is reported to range from about 175 to 650 pieces. Eagerly collected at the time of issue, many of these are still held in old-time collections and by museums, leaving precious few available for collectors today. This group of ten nicely matched mahogany bronze pieces will surely attract much interest. Retail value $2,000.00. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
Estimate: $900.00- $1200.00
c. 59 mm. By Jacques Wiener. 10 pieces in lot. This grouping includes: (1850) San Marco Basilica in Venice, Italy; (1855) Duomo de Pisa, in Italy; (1856) Westminster Abbey in England (English Version); (1857) Tournai Cathedral in Belgium; (1857) Basilica of St. Peters in Rome, Italy; (1858) St. Genevieve Pantheon in Paris, France; (1859) St. Ouens Church at Rouen, France; (1860) Cathedral of Milan, Italy; (1861) Chartres Cathedral in France; and (1862) the St. Etienne's Church in Caen, France. This is a spectacular series of medals each depicting an exterior view of the featured building, and an incredibly finely engraved view of the interior of the structure on the reverse. The interior views have a 3-dimensional effect that is quite remarkable, and best appreciated under magnification. Wiener began his intended series of 50 medals in 1848 but failing eyesight ended the series in 1867 after only 41 of the intended medals had been produced. As his vision continued to deteriorate he was able to continue engraving more typical medals for another 7 years, but could never again achieve the level of intricacy required to maintain the quality of his earlier work, and he chose to end the series rather than to produce an inferior product. These medals are typically collected in bronze, but on rare occasions a Silver specimen will appear. The mintage of the medals in this series is reported to range from about 175 to 650 pieces. Eagerly collected at the time of issue, many of these are still held in old-time collections and by museums, leaving precious few available for collectors today. This group of ten nicely matched mahogany bronze pieces will surely attract much interest. Retail value $2,000.00. SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS. ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.
Estimate: $900.00- $1200.00